The project is intended to equip 20 addresses that are underserved with broadband with a connection.

Mayor Frank Klingebiel has campaigned to be awarded a contract for the new Gigabit Directive 2.0 gap-filling program and thus serve as a pilot project. Small areas can now receive targeted funding to provide addresses not included in the broadband expansion with fast Internet.

The current project involves the Gebhardshagen Südwest area. Among other things, the Gebhardshagen forest swimming pool, the sports field of SV Glück Auf and the neighboring tennis court are to be connected to broadband.

The federal subsidy amounts to 50 percent of the project costs. The state of Lower Saxony is also providing co-financing of 25 percent of the costs, meaning that the city of Salzgitter will cover 25 percent of the costs itself. The total costs for the expansion are currently estimated at around 200,000 euros.

Jan Erik Bohling, the city councillor responsible for digitization, emphasizes: "We are very pleased that we have been awarded the funding and were able to make the development possible."